El followed up with a powerful kick!
A visible slash of energy cut through the air, hurtling straight toward Rayleigh!
"Not bad, kid!"
Rayleigh grinned. His lean, powerful muscles tensed as he braced himself, coating his entire body in Armament Haki.
He actually blocked El's fierce attack head-on!
"It's been a while… and you've grown even stronger!" Rayleigh praised openly.
"Save the flattery! Even with all that growth, you still blocked me, didn't you?!" El retorted, refusing to take the compliment.
Of course, this wasn't a fight to the death. El was well aware he was fighting on his own ship, so he held back considerably.
He avoided using his most devastating techniques, focusing almost entirely on hand-to-hand combat and physical skills.
El's Sage Body granted him immense power and speed—both at the absolute peak of what was possible.
Even the most basic physical techniques, when used by him, carried terrifying destructive force.
This was exactly what surprised Rayleigh the most.
But for a man who had been the right-hand man of the Pirate King and first mate of the Roger Pirates…
Power of this level was certainly impressive, but far from unmanageable.
He could tell El was simply testing his skill. He knew full well this young man possessed many mysterious and extraordinary abilities.
Since El chose not to use them now, he clearly wanted to measure himself purely in terms of combat technique and physical strength.
Fine then!
Rayleigh was more than happy to stretch his old bones and oblige him.
Rayleigh was clearly not an enemy.
As a legendary pirate who had long since stepped back from the world, he posed no threat to anyone anymore.
Even the World Government and Navy Headquarters knew roughly where Rayleigh was living.
Yet they chose not to act against him—because he was no longer the fearsome "Dark King." He was just an ordinary, retired pirate.
However, he seemed to hold a special fondness for young, powerful, and promising pirates like El.
Perhaps it was because he hoped to see a new generation carry on the dreams of the past.
Hadn't the Pirate King Roger's final speech been meant to pass down his unfinished legacy?
Rayleigh naturally respected his captain's final wishes. He also hoped to see the world Roger had dreamed of.
That was why, even though he had withdrawn from the world, Rayleigh was still willing to lend a hand to promising young pirates.
He had met El before, and had even offered him some help in the past.
At his level of power, sparring and exchanging blows with El was already a significant form of support.
CRACK!
El's ship was already considered one of the finest and strongest in the New World. But caught in the whirlwind of two supreme masters clashing, it was barely holding together.
"Look at this…"
Crocodile and Doflamingo watched helplessly.
The battle between El and Rayleigh was so intense it was changing the weather itself!
And this wasn't even a fight to the death.
If two masters of their caliber were to truly unleash everything they had, the resulting atmospheric and environmental upheaval would surely shock the entire world.
Yet here they were—simply exchanging blows, almost like a casual discussion—and it was already causing such terrifying phenomena.
Crocodile and Doflamingo were already counted among the top tier of pirates. The only ones stronger than them were the absolute elites within the Four Emperors' crews… or perhaps, El himself.
Even the World Government and Navy Headquarters were extremely cautious when dealing with El. He was undoubtedly among the strongest beings in the pirate world.
"Excellent! Truly excellent!"
Rayleigh praised continuously as they fought.
"Amazing… in such a short time, you've improved even further."
He shook his head, sounding almost moved.
"I can hardly imagine how strong you'll be the next time we meet…"
Rayleigh's assessment was entirely fair and accurate.
There were very few people left in the Grand Line stronger or more experienced than him.
Rayleigh, Roger, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Garp, Sengoku… their glorious era was slowly fading.
Now, at the twilight of his time, Rayleigh had found a newcomer whose strength and spirit could truly stand alongside the old legends. It brought him great comfort.
And despite his youth and somewhat arrogant attitude, El was exactly the kind of young man Rayleigh liked.
WHOOSH!
Rayleigh suddenly leaped back, putting some distance between them.
He let out a long breath.
"Alright… let's stop here."
"I'm just an old man. I can't keep up with this level of intensity anymore."
The moment Rayleigh spoke…
CRACK!
Right beneath his feet, a long, jagged fissure split open across the deck of El's ship.
These were the two strongest people in the world.
The fact that the ship wasn't completely destroyed and had only sustained damage to half its structure was a testament to excellent craftsmanship.
It also showed just how well both fighters controlled their immense power.
If they hadn't deliberately held back… forget a single ship—even an entire fleet would have been reduced to splinters by now.
"Giving up already… old man?"
El stopped too. He never intended to fight to the death anyway.
"Of course I am! Look at my age compared to yours!"
Rayleigh spoke with surprising pride, not the least bit embarrassed. He certainly didn't act with the dignified demeanor one might expect from a legendary pirate.
No wonder he could live peacefully right under the eyes of the World Government and Navy without being bothered. He had made his stance perfectly clear.
"Boring…"
El looked at his ship, now nearly split in two.
He also glanced at his two commanders, Doflamingo and Crocodile, who stood there looking pained and helpless.
"Don't worry about this. It's not your fault." El waved his hand.
He had been the one who started the fight with Rayleigh. Damaging the ship was hardly their fault for failing to protect it.
After all, who would dare step in and stop their own captain?
SCRITCH, SCRATCH…
The sound of plants growing rapidly echoed all around the hull.
In its current state, the ship couldn't sail.
El didn't have the ability to magically restore broken objects to perfect condition.
But using his Wood Style ninjutsu, he could reinforce and repair the structure enough to keep it afloat.
At the very least, it wouldn't sink here.
This was crucial—after all, his crew included many Devil Fruit users who could not swim.
"Lord El!!"
He had only just finished reinforcing the hull when they spotted ships approaching in the distance.
It was the Kuja Pirates.
They had rushed here at full speed and finally reached these waters.
__________________
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